Navy fires CO of new ship San Diego

Change on bridge won't affect May commissioning in SD Bay

The amphibious transport dock ship San Diego (LPD 22) is escorted by tugboats from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Ingalls shipyard shortly after being launched in 2010 in Pascagoula, Miss. It is the sixth of the San Antonio class of amphibious assault ships.
— Courtesy of U.S. Navy

The amphibious transport dock ship San Diego (LPD 22) is escorted by tugboats from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Ingalls shipyard shortly after being launched in 2010 in Pascagoula, Miss. It is the sixth of the San Antonio class of amphibious assault ships.
/ Courtesy of U.S. Navy

The Navy has fired the commanding officer of the amphibious ship San Diego, which was set to sail today from a Mississippi shipyard for San Diego.

Cmdr. Jon Haydel was relieved of command while allegations of personal misconduct are being investigated. The alleged misconduct did not directly involve any member of the 360-person crew, a source with knowledge of the situation said.

Cmdr. Kevin Myers, the previous commanding officer of the amphibious ship Green Bay, will temporarily take command of new ship, which is still considered in pre-commissioned status.

Haydel has been temporarily reassigned to the Naval Surface Force headquarters in Coronado.

"Although the investigation is ongoing, there is enough information at this point for Rear Adm. Hueber to relieve Cmdr. Haydel,” said Cmdr. Jason Salata, surface force spokesman.

“An officer in command has a unique position of trust and responsibility, and has a key role in shaping morale, good order and discipline within the command. His or her immediate superiors must have full confidence in the officer's judgment and ability to lead by example."

The San Diego is scheduled to sail through Panama and be commissioned May 19 at Broadway Pier on the downtown San Diego waterfront. That schedule should not be affected by the change in leadership, Salata said.

With the hull number LPD 22, the vessel is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship, a warship that transports Marines on expeditionary missions. It is fourth Navy ship to bear the name San Diego, but the first to be home-ported in the namesake city.

The San Antonio class of amphibious vessels has been blasted for performance. A 2010 Defense Department report call them "not effective, suitable and not survivable in a combat situation."

Salata said that despite this setback the LPD 22 has met all the benchmarks so far.

The Navy fired 22 commanding officers in 2011, higher than the 12 to 14 that the Navy quotes as an average annual rate.

Haydel is the fifth officer to be relieved of command this year, according to the Navy Times.